…a travel update by Jennifer Ashdown

By Jennifer Ashdown

I just happened to see that Jennifer Weiner has a new book. Yes, maybe I am procrastinating, but in my defense I do have a meeting at Simon & Schuster in two weeks. I wasn’t aware Simon & Schuster was her publisher, even though I am a long time fan. My heart started beating faster when I saw her name on their roster. Maybe, maybe there is a god and I can become her #1 PR chick! Oh well, a girl can dream….

Stop rambling you say, ok, I’ll get to the point. Jen posted a story on her blog about a recent trip with her two daughters. What a coincidence, I am about to take a trip with my two daughter’s- see it was fated I become her #1 PR chick!

My oldest daughter, Audrey, who is six, can hardly contain her excitement about our upcoming journey. No, it is not because we are visiting her grandparents, or her cousins, nor is it the sailing adventure, fourth of July parade, or fireworks. No, it is because we are traveling Jet Blue. I feel like there should be a drum roll here, and no, I do not do public relations for Jet Blue. It is the lure of the tiny television screen that has her on the edge of her seat, even though we haven’t boarded yet. This excitement is heightened by the fact that her evil parents have canceled the cable subscription in their latest round of budgeting.

Sadly, I know the forbidden fruits of Direct TV will not guarantee a smooth flight. My other daughter, Lila, is not yet three and she is our wildcard. The last trip the three of us took was to San Francisco. I thought I had planned an optimal departure time (late afternoon), and not wanting to take any chances I gave her some Benadryl (please don’t rat me out to the pediatrician). Of course, I also had every gadget, snack and bribe imaginable. It turns out that Lila is one of those kids who get revved on Benadryl. She ended up flailing her small self around, kicking the seat in front of us and pitching a royal fit. I did my humble best to keep her under control, but that did not stop the man two rows up from shouting “Can’t you do something to quiet her”. Well, no I couldn’t and despite what he thought my suffering was far greater than his own. I not only had to listen to Lila, I also had to worry about how her behavior was impacting each person in our vicinity.

Like most moms, I have no solution to the problems created by traveling with children-not the least of which is getting through security with all the gear to keep them entertained. Instead I would like to raise awareness to the fact that like you, our children are paying customers. While this does not give children license to act however they choose, it does grant them some respect- they aren’t freeloaders or rather not your freeloaders. I would also like to point out that in all my travels I have yet to meet a parent who wasn’t concerned about making sure their children behaved. So let this be my call to arms fellow moms “Equal Rights for Equal Fares.”

Darcy, can you design the t-shirt?

By Jennifer Ashdown

May is Peri-natal Depression Awareness Month in California. You might wonder why a mother of a six year old and a 2-1/2 year old is thinking about the baby blues. Well, there two reasons. One is that a goal of mine is to help support other moms and Chicks-n-chickens gives me the opportunity to do this. The other reason is that I was recently going over my medical history with a new doctor and that got me thinking about two of the major milestones in my medical history- the birth of my daughters.

My first pregnancy had it’s moments including a car accident and a post-partum hemmorrhage, but it was my second pregnancy, or maybe the miscarriage in between, that would cause lasting changes in my health. During my second pregnancy I was diagnosed Hypothyroid which is closely linked to depression. It is kind of like a chicken and the egg thing, which came first?

When my first born daughter was an infant I remember feeling isolated, angry that I was not getting enough support with the care for our fussy baby, and boy did I cry a lot. I tried going to a mother’s group but it wasn’t a fit and I felt like I didn’t fit in. Anyone who has ever been depressed can relate. In hindsight I think I would have benefitted from some help. Luckily when my second daughter was an infant things were different. I was so happy not to be pregnant and I got to know my now close friend Darcy. Not only did she offer support, she also taught me how to catch my groove through Lullaby Exercising. The routine and exercises she developed helped me get back in shape, I felt great and my daughters loved it too. We all wanted to Lullaby Exercise and I felt more secure in my bond with both girls.

New babies are stressful, first time mother-hood is stressful. If you think you may have the “Baby Blues” get help. Join a mother’s group, even if you don’t feel like you fit in. I guarantee there are other moms at the meeting who feel just like you do. Catch your groove, Lullaby Exercises is fun and we are real moms who get it! Go for a walk, the sunshine will improve your mood as well. Try to get enough rest, there are no prizes for having the cleanest house. Eat right, you and your baby will benefit. Most importantly talk to your doctor about how you are feeling.

Resources to check out:

About.com

Lullaby Exercises by Chicks-n-chickens, Inc.

Join a “Mother’s Group” in your community

Take a Stroller Strides or Baby Bootcamp Class

My friend Deb signs her emails with Director of Almost Everything. As a mom not only can I relate, but I wish I had thought of it first. I think every mom, stay at home or working, has felt this way. I myself struggle with all the job titles I hold, chauffeur, laundress, cook, book keeper, general contractor, and the list goes on.

As the owner of a large fixer upper, with an enormous yard, I find the to-do list to be even more overwhelming. Somehow hiring a builder, painter or hardwood floor installer involves endless amounts of supervision and decision making. Yet the hardest part of managing our household is not the contractors, or the newer ending tasks- it’s the paperwork. I just can’t seem to get anything filed instead my papers pile up in my office. I am sure Darcy is chuckling as she reads this, she has seen the chaos. Of course my lack of filing ability wouldn’t be such a problem if I didn’t need to access them on a regular basis. I find myself wasting time looking for our remodeler’s phone number every time I need to contact him. Luckily, I discovered Hometrax a new site designed to help me organize these details in one place where I can access them easily.

My office: 10 am Monday morning April 26, 2010

Hometrax.com, an innovative new website is a network of online communities and businesses connected by social networking. Unlike other social networking sites Hometrax is location based, offering users the ability to connect in their neighborhoods and cities. Hometrax is a free, home-centric service where users create a profile for their homes. These profiles offer the homeowner a fantastic organizational tool. They can keep track of their insurance inventory, create a database of their service providers and document their home improvements. Users of the site can also create profiles for their businesses, groups and organizations and leverage the power of the Hometrax community to promote their services and events. Community outreach has never been simpler. Need to know if your kids soccer game has been cancelled? Create a group just for your team and get the skinny before loading the kids in the car.

Hometrax offers powerful tools for us moms. Connect with me on Hometrax.com at jennifer@hometrax.com

April 2010

WORK/LIFE BALANCE

Struggling with the work life balance? Aren’t we all. Perhaps it’s a bit unobtainable, but we have to try. So, with that in mind Jennifer asked her neighbor, and professional organizer, Perri Kersch to share her expertise…..groove on Neat Freak chick!

PERRI KERSCH WRITES:

As a mom, wife, business owner, runner, friend, volunteer and all around busy lady (you know what I’m talking about), I love those rare but precious moments when I feel like a rock star. When everything is clicking, grooving, humming along and basically, I’m getting it all (or mostly all) done. Keep in mind, I said these moments are rare. But I cherish them when they happen. For me, I find I’m much more likely to have these moments when I employ my secret weapon…organization. Full disclosure, I work as a professional organizer so organizing is a passion of mine. I do it for a living, but I also walk the talk. Doing away with clutter, and having systems in place is how I maintain my occasional rock star status. Here are a few of my favorite organizing tips for getting your own rocking groove on.

TIP #1:

Do “it” the night before…and by “it”…I mean everything you possibly can to get ready for the next day. Pack lunches, prep the coffee maker, set the table for breakfast (or have your kids do it), pick out your clothes, pick out your children’s clothes (or have them do it if they’re over the age of 3), pack your brief case, diaper bag and/or purse, charge your cell phone, check your to-do list for the next day and highlight the 3 most important things you need to accomplish to move you towards your goals. Save yourself from morning chaos in whatever way you can by getting “it” done before bed time so you’re ready to rock n’ roll when the sun comes up.

Organizing expert Perri Kersh began her career as a professional organizer and time management consultant in 1992. But, truth be told, she’s been organizing most of her life. Through various careers in counseling, marketing and consulting, she finally settled in to her passion and started Neat Freak in 2005.

As an organizing consultant, Perri works with families, individuals, small business owners and students to help them declutter their space and their lives so they can function at their very best. She is a frequent contributor to local and national publications, and is regularly asked to speak at professional and group events. You can also find her as a regular expert on the Fine Living Networks new show, “Time Makeover” for the 2007-2008 season.

Perri is a past board member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, North Carolina Chapter, and a member of NAPO. She holds a BA in Psychology and a MAEd in Counselor Education from Wake Forest University. When she’s not busy organizing for others, she frequently shovels up after her husband and two young children.

Learn more about Neat Freak Professional Organizing at www.neat-freak.com and visit Perri’s blog.

January 2010

DANCE.

Come on. Go for it. Relax. Move. Groove. Release. Sway. Get’n groovy is cheap therapy. Put on your favorite tune and rock out.

I’ve had some fussy little chickens. Thank God I discovered that when I started dancing, moving and squatting while holding them close….they stopped crying. I melted. They melted. We fell in love. Wha laaaa, Lullaby Exercising.

I always exercise to music (with or without a chicken attached), keeping with the tempo of the song. Music makes great 3-5 minute intervals while on the treadmill, elliptical, or just dancing in my kitchen. Here’s my current play list….I love surfing songs on my iPhone and downloading.

FAVORITE SONGS TO GROOVE TO:

1234, Feist

Right as Rain, ADELE

Tell Me ‘Bout It, Joss Stone

Chocolate = Love, Lisa Phenix (Chicks-n-chickens Soundtrack)

Just Dance, Lady GaGa

For Your Entertainment, Adam Lambert

Glee Soundtrack

Funhouse, Pink

FAVORITE SONGS TO MELT TO:

Fallin’ for You, Colbie Cailat

Only You Can Love Me This Way, Keith Urban

Hey, Soul Sister, Train

I’d Rather Be With You, Joshua Radin

Sunflower Girl, Lisa Phenix (Chicks-n-chickens Soundtrack)

Who Says, John Mayer

TELL ME YOURS! TELL ME YOURS! TELL ME YOURS!

Groove,

d.

As I walked…

at MILE ONE I walked for Jennifer (home with the flu) and our friends and family who supported our fundraising efforts. I walked to honor my mom and my mom’s best friend, Glee, who are survivors. I walked in memory of my brother-in-law’s sister, Amy, who passed away this year from the disease. 

at MILE FIVE I walked for my new friend, Jenny. This was her second Avon walk. She was sweet and kind with a wonderful smile. She told me about her life and family. I walked for her 4 year old daughter, Adison.

at MILE FIFTEEN I walked for a crazy, big, beautiful, black woman dressed in pink ribbon pajamas with rinestone sunglasses grooving to “I will survive.” And at MILE TWENTY…I ran to get over the Golden Gate Bridge as fast as I could to finish 26 miles. Whew!

at MILE TWENTY-SIX (day 2) I walked for my new friend, Angela. This was her third Avon walk and the first in San Francisco. She was cool, easy going, and had the perfect pace. While we walked and talked, thirteen miles melted away. I walked for her two girls, Jessica and Katie, and her mother-in-law in heaven. I was proud to finish with her. 

But at the end, MILE THIRTY-NINE, I realized I walked for everyone and everyone’s mom, grandma, friends, sisters, wives, husbands, sons and daughters. I walked for every crew member and every person I passed on the street. I walked for YOU…and for everyone you love.

And at that moment……I felt that everyone walked for me. Everyone walked for MY mom and Glee. Everyone walked in memory of Amy and for her girls, mom, and everyone that loves her. We were all in this together (on earth and in heaven) and together in San Francisco this weekend we made a difference. For 2 days, we walked as 1.

Finish Line

The San Francisco Avon Walk raised 6 million dollars toward helping women with breast cancer and finding a cure to end it. Thank you for walking with and for me. Rock on chicks….now and forever.

Raffle Prize #10: Show tickets for Shopping! The Musical (San Francisco) 

Now in its fourth hit year, “Shopping! The Musical” is currently San Francisco’s longest running original musical. This award-winning revue features comedy songs about customers, products, Victoria’s Secret, those “oh-so-helpful” sales people and all the craziness of shopping. A night of laughter and “Shopping!”…without maxing out your credit card.

Chicks-n-chickens will raffle off TWO ticket certificates this Friday, each good for a pair of tickets. Win and enjoy a future Friday 8:00 PM performance. 

PEEP! Shopping! The Musical is active in the community and asked to be a part of the cause to help fight breast cancer. How cool is that? Really cool! Thank you for your support and stepping up. ROCK ON Shopping! The Musical. 

P.S. Wouldn’t this show be the perfect “Chicks Night Out”? TOTALLY!

RAFFLE INFORMATION:

The Chicks are participating in this year’s Avon Breast Cancer 2 Day San Francisco, July 11th-12th. Raffle proceeds will go toward meeting their goal of $3,600. You are AUTOMATICALLY entered to win when you donate at http://tinyurl.com/avonchicks

Raffle will take place on Twitter* Friday, June 26th at 4:00 p.m.  

To receive updates on the raffle prizes and the drawing follow chicksnchickens on Twitter. 

*Winners will also be notified via email.

2008 Rosé of Syrah ~ The palate pops with pomegranate and wild strawberry flavors. Yes…tell me more! The color shimmers as vibrant rubies in the glass. Beautiful! Rosé of Syrah comes from the vines on the upper west terraces, which are composed of rocky soils, and grant excellent exposure to both warm sun and cool breezes. Ahhhhhh. Food pairings would include charcuterie, sharp cheeses and spicy dishes. Pick me! Pick me!

Introducing J. Rickards Vineyards and Winery. A family-run operation of both wine grape farming and wine production, located at the northern end of the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. Owned and operated by Jim and Eliza Rickards. 

J. Rickards Winery 24505 Chianti Rd. Cloverdale, CA 707.758.3441 info@jrwinery.com 

Thank you J. Rickards Winery for joining Chicks-n-chickens in the fight against breast cancer. I feel privileged to have tasted and enjoyed many of the wines. J. Rickards Winery is gorgeous and all the people there (Annie!) are amazing and kind. Cheers!

Peep. Peep. If you don’t win…..this is an amazing gift for anyone. THEY SHIP!!! Send a bottle to your best chick friend (let me know if you need my address) or rooster. Excellent Father’s Day Gift!! View all the wines.